Where Are iPhone Backups Stored on Your Computer?
The iPhone backup folder on Windows and macOS, including which path the Apple Devices app uses instead of iTunes, plus how to open it fast.
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A computer backup of your iPhone is a folder on your disk, not one big file. Each backup gets its own subfolder named after a device identifier, and where that sits depends on which Windows app made it: the Apple Devices app, Microsoft Store iTunes, or the classic iTunes downloaded from apple.com. On a Mac, Finder has handled backups since Catalina.
The quickest route to the right folder is from inside the app itself. Manage Backups lists every backup on the machine and offers Show in Explorer or Show in Finder, which opens the exact location with no typing.
Where iPhone Backups stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
That expands to C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup, the path used by iTunes downloaded from apple.com. The Apple Devices app and Microsoft Store iTunes write to %USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup instead, so try that one if this folder is empty. Win+R then paste either path. Each device backup is a subfolder with a long identifier as its name.
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup
Finder writes here on macOS Catalina and later, replacing iTunes on older systems, and both use the same folder. Every device gets its own subfolder. Fastest way in: Finder > Go > Go to Folder with the path above, or connect the phone and use General > Manage Backups, right-click a backup, Show in Finder.
Frequently asked questions
Where are iPhone backups stored on Windows 11?
Use %APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup for iTunes from apple.com, or %USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup for the Apple Devices app and Microsoft Store iTunes. Win+R, paste the path, Enter. Manage Backups in either app opens the right one for you.
What does an encrypted iPhone backup contain?
Encrypted backups can hold things unencrypted ones skip: saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, Health and Keychain data. Encryption stays off until you switch on Encrypt local backup in the Apple Devices app, Finder or iTunes and set a password.
Can I delete old iPhone backups to free up space?
Yes. Open Manage Backups in the Apple Devices app or Finder, right-click the backup you no longer need and choose Delete. Deleting the subfolder by hand works too, but the app then keeps its own list consistent with what is on disk.
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